Washington Post: U.S. tested 2 Afghan scenarios in war game
The Pentagon's top military officer oversaw a secret war game this month to evaluate the two primary military options that have been put forward by the Pentagon and are being weighed by the Obama administration as part of a broad-based review of the faltering Afghanistan war, senior military officials said.

CNN: Dem senators diverge on public option
As Democratic leaders in Congress appear to be converging on proposals for a public health insurance option that might win passage in each chamber, the comments of two Democratic senators Sunday suggested that a long fight is likely ahead in the Senate.

CNN: NJ Governor’s race in final heated sprint
The heated race for Governor in New Jersey is about to get a whole lot tougher in the final 10 days, according to the campaigns of Gov. Jon Corzine and Republican candidate Chris Christie.

Los Angeles Times: Rep. Pete Stark: ambition vs. a big mouth
Pete Stark is sitting in a gilded meeting room in the House of Representatives. It is home to the powerful Ways and Means Committee that the Northern California Democrat might never chair, precisely because of the sort of verbal exchange he is attempting to explain at the moment: "He said to me, 'Don't pee on my leg.' And in a sense I said, 'I won't.' "

CNN: Cantor: It's time for a bipartisan health bill
Given the heated rhetoric and sharp partisan divides that have characterized this year's debate, it's easy to forget that there are several key reforms in health care that Democrats and Republicans can agree on.

CNN: Zakaria: Karzai likely to win again
Afghanistan's president is downplaying accusations of widespread fraud in his country's recent elections, but he's emphasizing the importance of a runoff for the sake of ensuring peace and stability in his nascent and war-torn democracy.

CNN: Karzai challenger prefers opposition to coalition
The candidate who will face Afghan President Hamid Karzai in a runoff election next month said Friday that he won't join Karzai's government if the incumbent wins another term, but instead will remain in opposition.

Washington Post: A congressman, a lobbying firm and a swift path to earmarks
It takes a while for most start-up companies to gain the confidence of a U.S. congressman and the promise of federal funds. But last year, a small Illinois company accomplished its goal in 16 days with the help of Rep. Peter J. Visclosky, a little-known Indiana Democrat who sits on the House committee that funds the Pentagon.

CNN: Webb gets 'The Last Word'
Democratic Sen. Jim Webb gave the Obama administration a mixed report card Sunday on CNN's State of the Union: questioning the administration's approach to health care reform but praising its approach to the war in Afghanistan.

CNN: Give McChrystal the troops he wants, Hatch says
Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-UT, said Sunday that, regardless of the political situation on the ground in Afghanistan, President Obama should give U.S. Gen. Stanley McChrystal the 40,000 additional American troops that McChrystal has reportedly requested.

Washington Post: Chamber of Commerce criticizes Obama team
The chief lobbyist for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce alleged Sunday that there is a White House campaign of "invectives" and "name-calling" against his organization, and said the business group is eager to ignore the heated rhetoric.

Washington Post: A crucial last dash for Deeds backers
A year ago, the sidewalk would have been full of volunteers ready to fan out into the neighborhoods with satchels full of campaign fliers. But on Saturday morning, it was just Tiffany Quivers, standing in front of a Fairfax County strip mall in a "Seize the Day" T-shirt, getting a last-minute primer about the Democrats on the Nov. 3 ballot.

CNN: Rep. Grayson calls Cheney a vampire
Controversial freshman Rep. Alan Grayson, who has become famous for attacking the Republicans' health care plan, went on the attack again Friday night, calling former Vice President Dick Cheney a vampire for his recent criticism of the Obama administration's handling of the war in Afghanistan.

Boston Globe: Panhandlers move from street to Internet
In the two years since he lost his job as a cook at an MIT fraternity house, Kevin Boudreau has learned the subtle art of how to ask strangers for money. But now, with winter approaching and an aversion to shelters, the homeless man with the grizzled goatee and skull tattoos covering both arms needs more than spare change.

CNN: Pilots of wayward flight talk to NTSB
Federal investigators have interviewed the pilots of a Northwest Airlines flight that overshot the airport in Minneapolis, Minnesota, last week, a National Transportation Safety Board spokesman said on Sunday.

CNN: Students allege Chicago nightclub barred blacks
Students from Washington University say they have complained to state and federal agencies that a Chicago, Illinois, nightclub barred six African-American members from their senior class trip celebration while admitting nearly 200 white classmates.

CNN: Strong winds feared in California wildfire
Firefighters working to extinguish a spreading California brush fire anticipate strong winds will fuel the blaze, which already has damaged property and injured one person, a fire official told CNN.

New York Times: Salute All Cars, Kids. It’s a Rule in China.
All the students at Luolang Elementary School, a yellow-and-orange concrete structure off a winding mountain road in southern China, know the key rules: Do not run in the halls. Take your seat before the bell rings. Raise your hand to ask a question.

CNN: Uruguay headed for presidential runoff next month
A former guerrilla fighter jailed for 14 years and an ex-president were headed for a runoff for the presidency of Uruguay, after neither was expected to capture more than 50 percent of the vote in Sunday's election.

CNNMoney: Stocks: Trying to recharge the rally
The quarterly reporting period has gotten off to a bang-up start, with 81% of companies outshining analysts' forecasts. But with expectations now raised, the latest crop of strong results has had little impact on the broad market.